Safety razor



N. K. FOUGNE'R SAFETY RAZOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 2s, i933.

Filed Nov. 23. 1931 INVENTOR ATTORN EY May 23, l1933 N. K. FOUGNER1,90943 SAFETY RAZOR Filed Nov. 23, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 uw n Ell-ImmunINVENTOR IZILg/ze @rn/11% if ATTORNEY wlTNEssEs 74 May 23, 1933. N.. K.FouGNER 19910430 SAFETY RAZOR Filed Nov. 23, 1951 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR wnTNx-:ssEs A ./jfou 11er ZM 'W0- BY m Q y ATTORNY' Premsa May23, 1933 UNITED STATES NICOLAY K. FOUGNEB, OI NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY RAZOR application mea november as, 1931. serial No. avesse. c

This invention relates to safety razors, and has particular reference toa safety razor having a continuous blade.

The invention aims for one of its objects to provide a razor of the typespecified, in which the blade holder is fashioned to form a' closedhollow handle part constituting a container for blade supply andreceivingspools, and to further form a guard part delining a pair of.spaced flat surfaces for simultaneously supporting for shaving, twoseparate lengths" of the blade.

The invention urther comprehends in a blade holder vfor a continuousblade safety razor, a clamping element carried by and shiftable withrespect to the guard part of the holder to releasably clamp the twoactive or exposed lengths of the blade between said element and thesurfaces of the guard.

As a further feature, the invention embodies a continuous blade orsaetyrazors having a longitudinal cutting edge and which is adapted to becoiled on a anged spoel, which blade isso constructed as to provide 5means for spacing the cutting edge from the flanges of the angedspool.

The invention further comprehends a spool for a continuous blade, inwhich the spool is so constructed as to cooperate with the blade to.avoid contact of the cutting edge with the spool flange.

Other objects of the invention reside in a safety razor of the indicatedcharacter which employs but few and simple parts capable 5 of economicalrduction and assemblage and which is high y eicient in its pur ose.

Other ob]ects will be apparent om lie following description and accomanying drawings, While vthe actual sco e o the invention is defined bythe appen ed claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a safety razor constructed in accordancewith the in vention.

Figure 2 is a side or edge view thereof.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure `4 is anenlarged -inverted sectional lan view taken approximatelon the plane indicated by the llne 4`4 in i re 2'.

Figure 5v is an enlarged 1ong1tudinal sectional view takenapproximately` on the plane indicated by the lline 5-5 in igure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 5, illustrating thereleased' condition of the blade.

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken approximately onthe line 7-7 of Figure 1. l L Figure 8 isan inverted plan ,view of themanilpulator or turning the blade receiving Spo) 1 Figure 9 is anenlarged Ilongitudinal sectional view of. the .blade clamping element.

Figure 10 is an enlarged long1tudinal sectional view of the uppersection of the blade holder casing.

Figure 11 is a similar View of the lower section of the blade holdercasing. Figure 12 is a perspective' View of one of the blade spools.

K Figure 13 is an edge view of one of the blade spools.

Figure 14' is a fragmentary side view of one end of the'blade.

Figure l5 is -a detail perspective view of the pawl which cooperateswith the blade spool ratchet teeth.

Figure 16 is an inverted plan view of a modified form of the manipulatorfor turning the blade receiving spool.

Figure 17 is a plan view of a modified formof blade spool.L v

Figure 18 is a side 0r edge View with parts broken away and shown insection, and illustrating a modified form of the blade holderconstruction.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the razor includesa continuous blade 20 having a longitudinal cutting edge 21 and providedat its opposite ends with terminals 22 which are .of greater width thanthe width of the remaining portion of the blade and'which have edges 23extending beyond the cutting edge`21. The terminal strips 22 in additlonto constituting means for handling the blade to avoid cutting of thefingers, are provided with suitable means, such as a keyhole slot 24,for interen a ement with a headed stud 25 on the tubular body 26 of aspool. As illustrated, the termisaid tubular body is provided at itsopposite ends with the annular flanges 27 and 28.

5' `The blade holder comprises upper` and Jlower sections 30 and 31,which when assembled deine a closed hollow handle partv 32' which isadapted to act as a ma azine for and contain the unused and used engthsof an extending guard part 33 which is .of substantially channel shapedcross sectional conv' figuration, presenting a continuous dependmgmarginal ange 34 defining a-pairfofl at longitudinallyconvergingfsurfaces 35 and 36 joined at their outer ends'by,

spaced a curved, preferably arcuate, connecting surface 37, the radiusof which is approximately equal to that of the spool body radius. Thelower edges of the portions; of the flange 34 defining the flat surfaces35 and 36 are notched to provide the guard teeth 40, while the surfaces35,36 and 37 at` the upper portion of the flange are provided with anoutwardly projecting bead 41 defining an abut'- ment shoulder 42 againstwhich the upper edge of the-blade is designed to seat. The upper section30 of the blade lholder is provided with a depending' tubular boss 44which has an interiorly threaded lower end 45, and which boss extendsinto an opening 46 in the lower section 31 and terminates within saidopening. The upper section 3() is also rovided with an arcuatedepending'wll 4 at its juncture with the guard part 33, 'and dependingblade guiding langes48and 49 extending rearwardly from said wall 47.

The lower section 3l of the holder is formed with an upstanding wall 50extending around one end and along the opposite sides thereof andterminating adjacent the depending arcuate wall 47. The terminals bf thewalls 50 are spaced from the blade guiding anges 48 and 49 a distanceapproximatin the thickness `of, the blade 20, thereby de 'ng passages 51and 52 through which the blade passes from and is returned to the hollowhandle part 32. Obviously, the casing sections 30 and 31 may be.assembled in any des1red manner, such as by the interengagement of thetongues 53 at the upper edge of the wall 50 with the receiving notches54 at the marginal edges of the upper section 30, and said sections maybe removably retained in assembled relation by the screw 55, the

. threaded shank 56 of which engages with the internal thread 45 of thede ending tubular boss 44. The screw is preibrably provided with akerfL57 of a size to accommodate a coinso as to avoid the necessity ofusinga screw driver to remove or emplace the screw. The dependingtubular boss 44 is circular yin cross section and is of an appropriatesize to constitute-1.a journal for receiving thereon the spoolbody 26from whichthe blade extends a means for setting up a resistance orretarding action to the free turning of the su ply spool, whichresistance may be varie by tightening or loosening the screw to causevariation in the clamping of the casing walls against the spool iianges.the blade 20. The upper section also defines The upper section 30 isprovided with an opening 60 of larger size than but disposed in axialalignment with an opening 61 in the bottom section 31. The opening 60accommodates the circular bearing'portion 62 of a spool mounting andturning assemblage 63 formed with an exteriorly disposed c1rcular headpart 64. The member 63 `further includes a reduced cylindricalportion 65which is of a diameter to snugly receive and accommodate thereoverl thetubular body 26 of a blade spool. The assemblage 63 further includes ashank 66 projecting axially from I the reduced portion 65s and formedwith a threaded extremity 67. A retaining screw,

68 having a reduced cylindrical portion 69 9 is designed to engagethrough the opening 61 in the lower section and to snugly vengage withinthe spool body 26. The shank 69 is formed with a threaded recess 70 forreceiving the threaded'fterminal 67, while the en- "9 pllng lugs 73,whereby the spool is mounted .and connected for turning movement by and'with the manipulator part 64. I d

In order to prevent retrograde movement ofthe spools, the Hanges 28 ofthe same are formed with peripheral ratchet teeth 75 with which the arms76 and 77 of a double spring pawl '78 cooperate. The pawl is preferablyconstructed from a single piece of material having' a medial angulatedprojecting portion 79 which is anchored in a receiving slot 80 .in theupper section v30.

In order to provide rmeans whereby the user may observe the amount ofblade remaining on the supply spool, the lower flange 27 is formed ofCelluloid orfany other suitable transparent material, while the frontwall of the lower casing section 31 is rovided with a window opening 81within wil-ich ,is arranged a celluloid or transparent panel The portionof the blade 20 having. the

longitudinal cutting edge 21 lying between the terminals 22 may tend tosag and contact with the lower flange 27, thereby resulting in dullingof the cutting edge. In order to 13 overcome this, the upper orunsharpened edge of the strip 20 is caused to adhere to the upper flange28 in any desired manner,prefera ly by forming said flange 28 as apermanent magnet consisting of a plurality of circumferentally spacedmagnetized sections 83. It may also e found desirable to coat the uppersurface of the lower flange 27 with asuitable transparent grease orlubricant L, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, for thepurpose of protecting the cutting edge against the possibility 'ooxidization. Obviously, as the blade is'withdrawn from the hollow handlepart, the grease or lubricant will be substantially removed by itsmovement through the passage 51 and,

further, by flushing the blade with hot water.

The razor further includes a clamping element designated generally bythe reference y character 85. The clamping element is shaped to conformgenerally to the guard part of the upper section 30 and is provided witha depending marginal flange 86. The lower beveled edges 87 of theportions which are designed to lie alongside of the surfaces 35 and 36terminate slightly above the cutting edge of the blade. The remainingportion corresponding to the curved or arcuate surface 37 protrudesdownwardly as at 88 and is provided with an inwardly directed bead 89which engages under that portion of the guard part 33 which is providedwith the surface 37. The flange 86 on its inner surface adjacent itsjuncture with the clamping element 85 is formed with a continuous groove90, to insure a clearancefor proper clamping, action of the lower partof the fiange with the blade. The guard element 85 is formed withalongitudinal slot 91 and the guard part 33 is provided with anupstanding T-shapedrib 92, the shank of which extends through the slot91 and the head of .which overlies the guard element to act as a guidefor longitudinal shifting of the guard element respectively to theclamped and released positions illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. In orderto provide means for facilitating the shifting of the guard element andfor locking the same in its clamped relation, a knob 93 is carried by aspindle 94 which ise journaled in a bearing openin 95 in the ele ment85, and said spindle carries at its lower end an eccentric or double camlocking element 96 which` is received within the tubular l bossl 44 andcoacts therewith, as illustrated in Figure 5, to rlock the lockingIelement in clamped relation to the blade and to act as a. final meansfor drawin the clamping element tightlyk against the lade. j

In order to facilitate flushing and cleansing of the blade, guard partand clampin p element when the blade is released, the sai clampingelement is formed adjacent its `juncture with the ange 86 with aplurality of slots 97. It thus follows that after the or key thusserves'in the capacity of c. means shaving operation with the clampingelement vmoved to the release position illustrated in Abroken lines inFigure 1, a free passa e is afto the user the replacement of a genuineblade corresponding to the type of holder provided.

In use, the hollow handle part 32 serves as a means for grasping thedevice in the hand when shaving with the section 30 disposed uppermost,thereby disposing the blade ink approximately parallel relation to theface. Due to the fact that two lengths of the blade are exposed for usesimultaneously, it is obvious that the razor may be used in either theright or left hand with equal facility: As soon as the cuttingeiiiciency of the exposed lengths is impaired, the user has only to turnthe knob 93 to release the cam from engagement with the boss 44 and tothen shift the clamping element from the full line to the dotted lineposition shown in Figure 1. rlhis releases the blade and the user` thenturns the assemblage 63 in a clockwise direction to withdraw from thehollow handle part 32 a new length of blade from the supply spool whichis journaled on the tubular boss 44. At'theV same time, this winds ontothe other receiving spool the used length4 of blade. The device asproportioned pro- -vides on theA supply spool a suflicient length ofblade to last the average persona full year. After the supply of bladeon the supply spool is exhausted, the casing section 31 may be displacedby removing the screws 55 and 68. The terminal 22 attached to the supplyspool provided with a threaded Opening-101 adapt' 12(5) ed to engagewith a lthreaded shank 102 formed on and projecting upwardly from thecircular head 64 of the spool mounting and turning assemblage. Themanipulator for preventin 1105 .is released and wound upon the receivingunauthorized feeding of a .125

fresh lengtho blades byothers, in that when it is unscrewed and removed,the circular i head 64 and threaded shank 102 cannot be employed forturning the assemblage. Furthermore, the threaded or equivalent convnection of the manipulator with the receiving spool mounting and turningassemblage 63 serves'to prevent retrograde .turning of the assemblage,with the possibility of damage to the ratchet pawl, ratchet teeth, the

coupling between the spool and its mounting or other parts. Itis obviousthat retrograde turning of the manipulator or key 100 will immediatelyeffect the unscrewing of the same, thus protecting the parts againststraining or breakage.

In some instances, however, it may be found desirable to totally discardthe holder when the blade supply is exhausted, and in A44a and thelatter acting as a Journal f'or the receiving spool and having rivetedthereto as at 31e, the terminal of the shank 66a of the receiving spoolmounting member.

What is-claimed is 1. In a safety razor having a continuous blade, ablade holder fashioned to provide a' hollow handle partto contain theunused and .used lengths of the blade'and aguard part defining a pair ofspaced flat non-parallel V surfaces for simultaneouslyV supportingforshaving, two separate lengths of the blade.

2. In a safety razor having a continuous blade, a blade holder fashionedto provide-a hollow handle part to contain the unusedand used lengths ofthe blade and a guard part defining a pair of spaced flat non-parallelsurfaces for simultaneously supporting for shaving, two separate lengthsof the blade and a. clamping element carried by andshiftable withrespect to the holder to releasably clamp the two active blade lengthsbetween the same andsaid surfaces.

3. In a safetyI razor havinga continuous blade, a blade holder fashionedto provide'a hollow handle part tocontain the unused and used lengths ofthe blade and a guard part defining a pair of spaced fiat non-parallelsurfaces-for nsimultaneously supporting for shaving, two separatelengths of the blade, a clamping element carried by and shiftablewithrespect to the holder to releasably clamp the two active bladelengths between the same and said surfaces and means in said handle partfor supporting in coiled form, the used and unused lengths of theblade.'

4. A safety razor having the combination of -a continuous blade, asupply spool upon which the unused length of the blade is coiled, areceiving spool upon which the used length of the blade is coiled and ,ablade holder fashioned to provide a closed hollow handle part tocontain-`said spools and a guard part defining a pair of spaced flatponparallel surfaces v.for simultaneouslyl supporting for shaving, twoseparate lengths of the blade.

5; A safety razor having the combination o f acontinuous blade, a supplyspool upon which the unused length of the blade is coiled, a receivingspool upon which the used length of the blade is coiled and a bladeholder fashioned to provide a closed hollow handle part to'contain saidspools and a guard part delininga plurality of spaced flat non-parallelsurfaces for simultaneously supportin for shaving, a plurality ofseparate len is of theblade.

'6. A safety ,razor having the combination of a ycontinuousblade, a suplyspool upon which the `unused length o vthe blade is coiled, areceiving spool uponv which the used len h of the blade is coiled and ablade holder ashioned to provide a closed'hollow handle'part to containsaid spools and a guard part' defining a plurality of spaced flatnonparallel surfaces for simultaneously supporting for shaving, apluralityl ofseparate 'lengths ofV the blade and means within saidspools handlepart for mounting'the -blade for turning movement.

7. `VA`safety ,razor having the combination -of a continuous.blade,asupply spool uponwhich the unused' length of the blade iscoiled, areceiving spool upon which the used ,len hof` the blade is coiled and ablade holder ashioned to provide aclosed hollow han'- dle part tovcontain said spools and a guard part defining a plurality of spacedflat nonparallel surfaces for simultaneously supporting for. shaving, aplurality of separate lengths of the `blade and means within said handle`part for mounting the blade spools for turning movement and forlimiting turning movement thereof in a direction to -feed the unusedlength of the bladefover the guard lengths of the blade, means formountin the blade spools for turning movement an f oi` limiting turningmovement thereof 1n a direction to permit of the feeding of the unusedlength of the blade over the guard part, said means being engageablewith the receiving spool, to effect turning thereof to wind the bladethereon for feeding said blade from the supply spool over the guard partand an exteriorly disposed removable manipulatorformed as a part of saidmeans.

9. A safety razor having the combination of a continuous blade, a supplyspool upon whichv the. unused length of the blade is coiled, a receivingspool upon which the used length of the blade is coiled and a bladeholder fashioned to provide a closed hollow handle part to contain saidspools and a guard4 part defining a plurality of spaced flat nonparallelsurfaces for simultaneously supporting for shaving, a plurality 'ofseparate lengths of the blade, means for mounting the blade spools forturning movement and for limiting turning movement thereof in adirection to permit of the feeding of the unused length of blade overthe guard part, said means bein engageable with the receiving spool, toe ect turning thereof to wind the blade thereon for feeding said bladefrom the supply spool over the guard part .and an exteriorly disposedremovable manipulator formed as a part of said means and having aconnection which is releasable upon retrograde turning movement.

10. A safety razor having the combination of a continuous blade, asupply spool upon which the unused length of the blade is coiled,

a receiving spool upon which the used length of the blade is coiled anda blade holder fashioned to provide a closed hollow handle part tocontain said spools and a ard part defining a plurality of spaced atnon-parallel surfaces for simultaneously supporting for shaving, aplurality of separate lengths of the blade, means for mounting the bladespools for turning movement and for limiting turning movement thereof ina direction to ermit of the fee-ding of unused lengths of lade over theguard part and cooperative coupling devices provided on the receivingspool and its mounting including correspondingly shaped inter-engagingportions thereof. 11. A safety razor having the 'combination of acontinuous blade, a supply spool upon which the unused length of theblade is coiled,

a receiving spool upon which the used length of the blade is coiled anda bladeholder fashioned to provide a closed hollow handle part tocontain said spools and a guard part defining a pair of spaced -fiatlongitudinally converging surfaces joined at their outer ends by a'curved connecting surface and coinciding respectively at their innerends with blade passages communicating with the hollow handle part,saidlat surfaces constituting means for simultaneously supporting forshaving, two separate lengths of the blade.

-12. A safety razor having the combination iof a continuous blade,supply spool upon which the unused length of the blade is coiled, areceivin spool upon which the used length of the bla e is coiledv and ablade holder vfa'shioned to provide a closed hollow-handle part tocontain'said spools and a guard part defining a pair of spaced flatlongitudinally converging surfaces joined at their outer ends by acurved connecting surface andcoinciding respectively at their inner endswith blade passages communicating with the hollow handle part, said-flatsurfaces'constituting means `for simultaneously supporting for shaving,two separate lengths of the blade and a coop erative blade clampingelement mounted on the blade holder and having cooperativedivergentvflat surfaces and a curved connecting surface and mounted forshifting movement E111 he blade holder to clamp and release' the a e. v

13. A safety razor including in combina- -tion a continuous blade havinga longitudinal cutting edge, a supply spool upon which the blade iswound, a receiving spool upon which the used blade is adapted to bewound and a combined blade holder and handle including cari'ied by thecasing and shiftable with ref-v y erence to the extension to clamp orrelease the blade.

14. A safety razor including in combination a continuous blade having alongitudinal cutting edge; a supply spool upon which the blade is wound,a receiving spool upon which the used blade is adapted to be wound and acombined blade holder and handle including a hollow casing within whichthe spools are housed and rotatably mounted in the sameplane,-`anextension on said casing constituting a. guard around which-the blade istrained, said extension having a pair of oppositely disposed straightsides convergingy longitudinally and joined by a curved surface and acorrespondinglyshaped clamping element carried bythe casing andshifta-ble with reference to the extension to clamp or release the bladeand releasable locking cam for holding said element in its bladeclamping relation.

15. In a safety razor, the combination o f a blade holder having ahollow handle and a guard portion extending from one end of the handle,said guard portion being so constructed and arranged as to provide apair' of flat longitudinally converging side faces joined by a curvedsurface at their outer ends ;l of a continuous blade coiled within thehandle and trained around the convergent side faces and curved surfaceof the guard portion to y'expose two lengths .of the blade for use.

16. In a safety razor, the combination of -a blade holder having ahollow handle and a by a curved surface at their outer ends; of acontinuous blade coiled within the handle and trained around theconvergent side faces and curved surface of the guard portion to exposetwo lengths of the blade for use and a cooperative blade clampingelement mounted on the handle for shifting movement to clamp or releasethe blade.

17. A safety razor having the combination of a continuous blade, asupply spool upon which the unused length of the blade is coiled, areceiving spool upon which the used length of the blade is coiled and ablade holder fashioned to provide a closed hollow handle part to containsaid spools and a guard part deining .a plurality of spaced fiatnon-parallel surfaces for simultaneously supporting for shaving, aplurality of separate lengths of the blade, means for removably mountingthe blade spools for turning movement and for 'limiting turnn movementthereof in a direction to permlt of the feeding of the unused length ofblade over the` guard part` and means for variably retarding the turningof the supply spool.

18. In a continuous blade for safety razors having a longitudinalcutting edge and adapted to be coiled on a-ianged spool, terminalsat theopposite ends ofthe'blade oonstituting means for spacing the'cuttingedge from the spool flange to prevent contact of said cutting edgetherewith.

19. In a continuous blade for safety razors having a longitudinalcutting edge and adapted to be coiled on a flanged spool, terminalsatthe-opposite endsof the blade constituting means for spacing thecutting edge from the spool flange to prevent contact of said cuttingedge therewith and functioning as a means for handlin the blade andconnecting the same with t e spool.

20. In a continuous blade for safety razors having a longitudinalcutting edge and adapted to be coiled on a anged spool, terminals at theopposite ends of the blade constituting means for spacing the cuttingedge4 from the spool flange to prevent contact of said cutting edgetherewith and functioning as a means for handlin the blade andconnecting the same with t e spool, said Vterminals consisting of astrip of material of greater width'than the blade.

21.` A spool for a continuous safety razor blade, said spool including acylindrical body and anges at the opposite ends of said body, one ofsaid flanges being transparent to dis play the amount of blade on thespool.

22. A spool for a continuous safety razor blade having sharpened andunsharpened opposite longitudinal edges, said spool including acylindrical body and flanges at the opposite ends of said body, one ofsaid flanges being magnetizedV to cause the unsharpened edge to adherethereto, `whereby

